Red card for Lopes mars return to club football after World Cup high

Roberto Lopes came back from a World Cup storybook run and found himself in the middle of an Irish league flashpoint. The 34-year-old Shamrock Rovers defender was sent off in stoppage time during a tense 0-0 draw with Drogheda United in the League of Ireland Premier Division on Friday night. The red card came after a late, high challenge on Shane Farrell. Rovers manager Stephen Bradley did not hide his frustration and backed his player. "I've seen it back and I'm not sure it's a red card. I think the referee made the decision very, very quickly," Bradley told club media. Pundits for Ireland's national broadcaster saw it differently, arguing the tackle was late and with a high boot, so the harsh punishment was fair. The incident was a sharp fall from a remarkable month for Lopes. Born in Dublin to an Irish mother and a father from Cape Verde, he became one of the faces of Cape Verde's run at the World Cup. Along with 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, he helped the modest African side reach the knockout rounds and push Lionel Messi's Argentina all the way before losing 2-3 in extra time in the round of 32. With Ireland not at the World Cup, local supporters got behind Cape Verde because of Lopes. He remains a favorite with the Irish public despite the red card, and a key player for Shamrock Rovers. The capital club leads the league after 26 rounds with 51 points.